Objectives
- Identify water and milk as the best drink choices to quench thirst and provide nutrition.
Lesson Plan
Students should have the general understanding that the more nutrients in a food or a beverage, the better it is for your body and brain. The lessons in this unit present a fun and interactive way to learn about sugar content in snacks and drinks. Kids will increase their decision-making skills as they learn how to read a food label to tell if an item contains excessive amounts of sugar. They will plan and advocate for nutritious snack and drink choices that are low in added sugar.
Set The Stage
Ask kids if they have ever added sugar to their food. What about cereal? Cottage cheese? Strawberries?
Show kids a small container with 10 teaspoons of sugar (approximately 40 grams). Explain that 1 cup of soda or fruit drink can have this much sugar added to it. Tell them if you drink a really tall glass, you would be drinking twice as much sugar! That’s a lot! Instead, drink water! Download the Hydration Posters to help kids understand why water is a nutritious choice and to encourage them to quench their thirst with water!
Teacher note: Kids may ask about 100% fruit juice as a healthy drink choice. Explain the difference between 100% juice and fruit drinks. 100% juice has natural sugar whereas fruit drinks have added sugar. Nevertheless, too much juice, in any form, can mean too much sugar. It is better to drink water and eat fruit for the most nutrition.
To use this with your students click here.
Captivate
Liquid Candy
Some people call drinks with added sugar “liquid candy.” Would you drink candy to quench your thirst?
Educate
Sugar Alert
What drinks are the best choice? Present slideshow so kids can compare the amount of sugar in beverages in both grams and teaspoons. Highlight that chocolate milk can have as much added sugar as fruit drinks! Sodas have the most added sugar. Water and milk are the most nutritious choices!
Call out that the chart on the slideshow shows an 8 oz. serving (1 cup). Many beverage bottles are 12, 16, and 20 oz., so they will contain even more added sugar.
Teacher note: Some drinks with artificial sweeteners show zero grams of sugar. Let kids know that if the drinks taste sweet and the sugar line says “0” there are likely to be artificial sweeteners inside. Artificial sweeteners are manufactured substitutes for sugar, they are not naturally occurring.
Check for understanding: What drink choices are best for your body and brain?
Activate
Tally it Up
Students use the Drink Tally handout to track their drink choices for one day.
Close the Lesson
Today we learned that water and milk are your best drink choices to quench thirst and provide nutrition. Next, we will learn about nutritious snack choices.
Grade: K-2
Time: 20 Minutes
What You'll Need
Resources
Materials
- Sugar-10 teaspoons in a container
- Markers
- Poster Board or White Board
- Slideshow
Health Education Standards
- Standard 1: Core Concepts–Limit foods and beverages high in added sugar.
- Standard 4: Interpersonal Communication
- Standard 5: Decision-Making
- Standard 7: Practice Health-Enhancing Behaviors
- Standard 8: Advocacy
Social and Emotional Learning Competencies
- Self-Management
- Responsible Decision-Making
Extend the Lesson
- Listen to the fit song, Should I Eat This or Should I Eat That?, to help kids think about their snack and drink choices.
- Play the Sugar Land game from the fitGames series to help kids learn about snack and drink choices that are low in added sugar.
- Learn the difference between Snacks and Treats by reading the article, Snacks versus Treats, What's the Difference?
- Read about the new nutrition labels: Understanding Food Nutrition Labels
- Play Food Bingo with kids and talk about whether or not they would want to eat or drink the foods as a snack choice.